Just a little while later…

And we found ourselves piling into this tiny old soviet Jeep. It pawed its way up winding dirt roads, carving along the edges of cliffs. Snow pelted the windshield, and I started to wonder what we had gotten ourselves into! We were working our way up the mountains of northern Azerbaijan, to a little village called Xınalıq (Americans pronounce it like “Keen-a-leek” or “Hin-a-lig”). It was late May, and the last snow storm of the year was trying to blow us off the mountain! But slowly, slowly, the clouds began to break. And for the first time I saw the mountains above, shining in the sun. Between the clouds peeked the ancient village, home to a language spoken nowhere else in the world. From that moment on I was enchanted by the wild beauty of Azerbaijan. And I knew I had to come back!

Our first adventure in Azerbaijan eventually drew to a close. But I couldn’t get the Land of Fire off my mind! So when I came back for more, I made it my mission to share this wonderful place with others. I created this guide to encourage others to come to Azerbaijan and find their own adventures. I hope you will come and taste for yourself. There are many adventures waiting for you, tucked away in places normal travelers never get to see. So, what are you waiting for? Yaxşı Yol!